Time for Blog!

I am so sorry to anyone who has been following. I did warn that I would be super busy in the summer and not be able to post. I will now commit to try and keep up with this. It is not that I don't think about my weight, health, body composition, etc. every day, but sometimes it might take me a few days to gather my thoughts, so bear with me.

When I first started this blog, I divulged that one of the reasons I started exercising again after a 10 year hiatus was that experience my traditional 5 lb weight loss during my busy summer catering season. Well, this year was a banner year, and yes, I did lost that 5 lbs. In fact, almost 10 lbs. I am a petite person and most people would say I did not need to lose this weight, but I am ecstatic about it. My clothes fit better, I am back in my "skinny jeans". I can't pinch any inches on the side of my waist. I just feel good. NOW THE PROBLEM: How to maintain. First off let me say I am not depriving myself. I have been able to maintain, eating whatever I want.
LISTEN UP TO THESE TIPS on how:

THE SECRETS ARE: HAVE ONLY A LITTLE OF THE "BAD" THINGS.
You can have one glass of wine a night, but it really has to be one if you don't want to gain.
When you go out to a party on the weekend it can be two, but something else has got to go (maybe no carbs that day or something like that). If you want to indulge in one thing, try to cut out something else that you won't miss so much.

EAT SMALLER MEALS MORE OFTEN. I have heard this many times, but I am trying it really for the first time. EAT WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY, but choose something healthy and a smallish portion. You will be amazed at how little will chase that hungry feeling away.

Exercise will firm you up, but from my point of view, IT WILL NOT HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT unless you are doing intense cardio sessions that last more than 45 minutes.
Yes, exercise is great and now that I have a bit more time, I am getting back to my weekly classes and schedule. I always feel great after I do it, and my muscles are getting firmer. But I did not exercise a lick this summer and lost 10 lbs. I was active, but more importanly, just did not eat as much. Bottom line: calorie intake is the key to weight loss.
I like to exercise, but do not like the torture of the treadmill and other boring machines. Because I will not subject myself to that, I need to take in less calories, plain and simple.

EAT UNTIL YOU ARE NO LONGER HUNGRY, NOT UNTIL YOU ARE FULL. This is a hard one for me, especially if something is delicious. I just can't stop. It is a struggle everyday. I dream that someday I can follow this rule without even thinking, but I am not there yet. One thing that makes it easier for me is knowing that I can eat the next time I am hungry. I am not going to wait to some appointed time. If I eat a sandwich, and I get full 1/4 of the way through, I know I can pick it up in an hour if I want and have some more. That is very simple, but very liberating. It works too! This is not only a weight maintenence tip, it is also a very healthy way to live, taxing your system much less than overeating.

I have also been taking Chromium Picolinate (with dinner) and another supplement that I read about (name next time). Both are supposed to help with fat metabolism. Who knows if they help.

Oh the last tip for today: WEIGH YOURSELF DAILY. It is not obsessive. It is just staying aware of where you are at. It helps me, especially not to eat at night, because I know I have to face the scale in the morning! Whatever works for you, most important tip of the day!

Hope this helps out you members of the 30-40 year old ladies who don't want to wear the elastic waistbands and holiday sweaters!

GROW UP!

I am talking to myself when I say Grow up! But perhaps it applies to you too. I know what I should be doing to keep myself fit, and in turn, happy, but I keep pretending that I can keep up my old habits and still stay fit. It is just not reality. No, I cannot eat until I am really full and expect to lose weight or even maintain. What I am talking about here is a difference between losing and gaining 5 lbs., which may not seem like much to some. But the problem is it is the same 5 lbs that I keep struggling with. I feel much more comfortable in my clothes and just in general when I have the 5 lbs off. Would I like to be even 5 lbs. thinner? Yes, who wouldn't? But I can say that I cannot maintain that and eat normally. So, yes, I would take just the 5 lbs. off that I speak of. I was reading my last blog, and it said to pat yourself on the back for any progress, no matter how small. So, ok, had a set back yesterday with too many cocktails AND dessert, but today I exercised for one hour and have been eating well and consciously. So, I pat myself...I just don't want to give up and get the middle age spread! (What I dread the most). Good news is, I just don't think I have it in me to give up to that extent. So, battle on for the rest of my mid-life. I do know ladies who are 70 plus who look fabulous, so perhaps the battle will be a lifelong one, and I will never give myself a break. That's ok, because really looking good means feeling good!

I Overcame Procrastination!

At least, that is what Denise Austin told me this morning when I finished my 20 minute VHS cardio-kickbox workout. You see, I haven't worked out for at least 2 weeks. I blame it on being busy, prioritizing (i.e. I really should be all done with the seasonal family clothes out swap, it is JUNE). Even my beloved blog is suffering. There just aren't enough hours, blah blah, blah. So, I just said to myself, "OK-remember your words...just show up, just do SOMETHING" And, I have to say, I do feel a bit better, although 20 minutes is no marathon. At least I feel like I am possibly on the right track again, and that is something. I did work up a sweat (20 minutes seems like a marathon when you have been slacking off. I kept wondering when it was going to end! I did try Zumba about 2 weeks ago on the advice of a friend and it was really fun. It's like one big girl dance party, with great music and simple moves. All the ladies had a smile on their face, and that says a lot! Well, I have many hours of paper work to finish in 2 hours, so I must be on my way. I leave you with this: Be good to yourself today, and pat yourself on the back for any accomplishment that took a bit of coaxing on your part!

The Tori Spelling Syndrome

I think I have this. Sort of. Have you seen this woman lately? She is THIN, and I think I know what is going on. There is the obvious lady getting older in Hollywood/needs to compete thing. But what I can relate to is the "Yes, I am on the thinner side of the spectrum, but after having two kids, I still have this, that and the other body part that I am not happy with." It is clear to me that she is obsessing about her parts rather than seeing the whole. I can't believe I am saying this, but I truly think she would look good with another 5 or 10 lbs. on. I am usually a true believer of the You Can't be too Thin or too Rich Club", but I think I am handing in my membership card (if I was too Rich, I would give too charity, so don't look down on me!) I will tune into her show just to see what she is doing to herself. (yes, I might pick up a weight loss tip or too. I am not saying I am not envious of her ability/will power to get that thin, but I think she has taken it too far!) I like that show because it seems like a true reality show: not too much can be hidden. I really like her husband too. He is very considerate, and I think she realizes that. I am curious to see if he has any concerns about her getting so thin. Her legs are smaller than my arms! I'll write with what I find out! Feel free any of you to comment if you find out first-I don't have too much time for TV these days, although there is always DVR!

MY HOMEPAGE on my computer is MSN.com I like it because it has the latest news but also lots of pop-culture stuff, so I get the serious news and the fluff all at once. And it always has weight loss tips, anti-aging advice, etc. Today it reported on the 10 habits or secrets of thin people. I am happy to report that about 80% of the time, I follow about 9 out of the 10. Eat Breakfast, allow yourself the treats you want, but smaller portions of them, don't depend on quick fix diets as your health should be your permanent lifestyle, don't go more than 6 hours without food or you will slow your metabolism. These are things most of us are aware of. One thing that really made me stop and think was the mention of the Clean Plate Club. I think I am the president! Lately I have been tyring to start with smaller portions to begin with. The problem is that I know I am doing that, so I go back for seconds (even if I am starting to feel full :( I have been getting a very small portion for seconds, so that is good. ) ANYWAY, I usually clean my plate, again, even if I am starting to feel full. Or eat food off my kid's plates, even if I am full. My trick of brushing my teeth or chewing gum before I even start cleaning up works, if I A) remember to do it, or have gum or B) don't decide that I just want to keep eating, and aw, I'll just eat this extra food just this time...What I am saying is that if I was genuinely hungry, I wouldn't mind cleaning my plate, or eating off my kid's plates. 98% of the time, I am satiated enough, and have absolutely no business eating any more food! I really liked the quote in the article by a Weight Watcher's Rep. She said "Either way, the food is going to WASTE or WAIST." Makes you think..........

Informative Comment!

Thank you to Jackie Conn, a fellow blogger, (luv2lose, it is featured on the Raising Maine web site), for filling us in on Weight Watchers. I knew she worked for them, and asked her to describe the program. Please read her comment under "Is it Time for Professional Help". Thank you, Jackie! Hopefully, users of Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig will come forward and enlighten us. I will have comments when I have time to post. I do have some most definite opinions!

Interesting Radio Broadcast Tonight!

Hey, I don't know if I can tune in, but this sounds like something we should listen to. On Maine National Public Radio's Fresh Air show tonight, there is an interview with the Author of the book The End of Overeating: How Sugar, Salt and Fat have Highjacked our Brain . It airs at 7 p.m. tonight 90.1 FM Radio. If anyone gets a chance, I would love to have a report on that show! Thanks!

Is it Time to Seek Professional Help?

• Usually, this statement refers to psychological help (and believe me , with my harried life, I have asked myself this question from time to time :) What I am asking you is if you think perhaps it might be time to check out a weight loss club or system. If you think about it though, weight loss systems are a form of psychological help. I truly believe that what you put in your mouth is influenced primarily by your mind. If it was exclusively physiological you would stop eating when your hypothalamus (is that the monitor in your brain that tells you when you're full?) Your eating would not be influenced by external cues (happy, sad, tired which is a big one for me). So, maybe we do need some psychological help. Some one or some system to help us make those healthy choices. That's another psychological factor. When were truly hungry, (and not just eating cause we're bored, upset, etc.), our minds have a choice. Do we go for the potato chips or that apple? Then we go into all kind of rationalizations why maybe we could or should have those potato chips (I need extra salt cause I sweat a lot today, or I haven't eaten that much today, so I'll have some, and then I'll eat a light dinner...) These mind games are enough to make anyone cry out for help. What I am saying is wouldn't it be nice to have no guess work. I get so frustrated when I go out to dinner for example. Lately, I've become increasingly aware that just because I choose the turkey or fish item on the menu, doesn't mean I have made the healthiest or least caloric choice. I wish (and may even do something about it) that all menus were required to have nutritional info next to each item, so we can make educated decisions. Then, if we want to eat that 2,000 calorie burrito, it would be our choice! Getting back to the systems, I would love to know more about Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem. Does anyone have experience with these and would be wiling to share? I will write more about what I know and think about them soon!